Housing Ministry distributes ‘5,000 units’ in Salman Town

As part of implementing the directive issued by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, to distribute 5,000 housing units, in line with the royal directives, Housing Minister Bassim Al Hamer announced the distribution of Salman Town’s units in Northern Governorate.

The minister said that Salman Town project is one of the major projects being carried out in line with the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to build 40,000 housing units.

Minister Al Hamer explained that the town is distinguished by the areas designated for its public parks, and beaches, highlighting that its islands are linked with a network of roads and bridges, noting that the city was designed to be connected to a number of main entrances to accommodate the traffic movement of the residents and visitors.

He pointed out that its includes all needed services such as: major and subsidiary electrical stations, a water station and another for wastewater treatment, mosques, kindergartens, schools, a university, a major hospital and health centres and clinics, and a sports city that includes a football stadium. Over 700 building violations made by the beneficiaries were discovered at government housing units by Housing Ministry inspectors. According to ministry sources, beneficiaries of social housing units are making changes that are endangering the safety of housing units. An inspection team was able to find 774 serious violations that endangered the building and its inhabitants.

The technical from the Ministry of Housing said that they taken pictorial evidence during the inspection visits. Many of the violations include wrong engineering practices, which led to cracks in walls, damage to water system and electricity system. Damaging sewage system was also an issue. According to the ministry, the beneficiaries attempted to fix the issues but struggled to do so due to the high financial costs. 

The ministry explained that there were 67 violations in Salman City, 63 violations in the eastern city of Al Hidd, 19 violations in the Tubli Project, 79 violations in the Lawzi project, in addition to 124 violations in the Busaiteen project, 131 violations in the Northeast of Muharraq Project, and 155 violations in the Sitra project, 49 violations in the Nabih Saleh Project, 51 violations in the Al Malikiyah Project, and 36 violations in the Jidhafs Housing Project. The ministry urged citizens to take permission from the authorities before making any modifications to the building units.